Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 01:14:50 GMT
From: Jon
Subject: Nick and Jonathan: The Return Part One
Many, many people have written me over the past year since the end of the
story. A year ago Jonathan began his immortal quest. It's been a year in
the real world.. more in theirs.. comments as always backbayguy@juno.com
Chapter One:
The morning sunlight broke over Lake Tahoe. As the sun reached across the
still waters, the light moved across a still figure standing at the edge of
the shore. A slight breeze ruffled his blond hair; moving a lock of the
hair across his forehead. The morning chill in the air made him hunch a
little further into his down vest. Sitting at the young man's feet was a
very large cat; his tail occasionally twitching. Both seemed content in
just being at peace with nature and the moment.
"Now there's a picture." A voice behind them said.
Ryan turned to find Jonathan standing there; oddly enough with his ever
present mug of coffee. He also held one out to Ryan.
"Where did you come from?" asked Ryan turning and taking the cup of
coffee. "You usually let me know when you are going to show up. It's been
a long time."
"Just felt like popping in" said Jonathan bending down to scratch
Sebastian's ears. This started a purr that rumbled through the cats' chest.
"I guess you miss me too fur ball" said Jonathan.
"On occasion" came the reply.
"Wiseass cat" said Jonathan. He turned to Ryan. "How are you doing kiddo?"
"I'm good I guess" said Ryan. "It's been over two years now since this all
happened. It's taken a long time to get used to this money, and power. I
understand now what you meant by gilded cage"
"Danny keeping things tight?" asked Jonathan as he sat down on a large rock
outcropping. "Are there problems?"
"No more then usual, but it is very difficult to convince a date that it is
cool to have 6 bodyguards around." Ryan replied with a smile. "Jared scared
the living shit out of the last girl I tried to bring home"
"Least he is keeping the penthouse from being a booty palace" said Jonathan
with a laugh. This disturbed Sebastian who turned and put his ears back.
"Be that as it may, I'm 21 and horny" said Ryan. "I can go to the finest
restaurants in the world, order the best food and wine, be all set to take
the girl home but there seems to be very little privacy around."
"You still have your privacy you just have to choose your moments in public
carefully" Said Jonathan.
"I guess" said Ryan. "How are things with you?"
Jonathan paused for a moment to reflect on his life before answering. Two
years earlier without warning for either him, or the people closest to him
he died. Jonathan had come back to talk to Ryan briefly and even more
briefly in the times since then. A lot had happened, come and gone across
his plate. He and the other immortals had achieved their goals. He had done
things that he wasn't particularly proud of; however the world was once
more safe for mortal man; at least for the time being. Jonathan still
wondered though, what now?
Did he have any right to infringe upon Ryan's life? He had set everything
up to keep Ryan safe and well for his own lifetime. Did he have the right
to turn things upside down with a return from the dead? These were things
that were in his mind.
"I'm well" said Jonathan. "My work is done. What had to be done is done.
Beyond that, no one can say"
"Are you coming back?" asked Ryan, putting his coffee mug down on the
stone.
"I don't know" said Jonathan. "It's been two years like you said. It is far
easier to die and disappear then to reappear."
"I miss you" said Ryan. "A lot of people do. I understand you had to do
what ever it was that was done, but if that's over why can't you come up
with something to return?"
"I am not sure if it is a good idea or not" said Jonathan. "It would raise
a lot of questions"
Without warning, Sebastian put his ears flat back and began to growl; his
fur fluffing out to immense proportions.
"What the hell is with the cat?" asked Ryan suddenly standing.
"Chill fur ball" said Jonathan. "Ryan, meet Kristian. He's one of the
club"
Ryan turned to see Kristian standing there. He was dressed in jeans,
flannel shirt and down vest.
"Hello Ryan, we finally meet" said Kristian, not moving.
"You are the one that made him immortal aren't you" asked Ryan.
"I just brought him over" said Kristian, coming down the path. "Jonathan
was already an immortal, his body just hadn't changed yet."
"Why are you here?" asked Ryan.
"To talk to you both" said Kristian. "Normally when an immortal `dies' from
this mortal plane, they are done for this generation. However, on very
rare occasions, when it is needed something can be done."
"What?" asked Jonathan. "Are you talking about some miraculous recovery?"
"No, nothing quite as dramatic as that. Your world has quite changed in
two years Jonathan." Kristian replied "You company is sold off, you are
legally dead, and Ryan here holds all of your money"
"So, then what are you talking about" asked Jonathan.
"We'll talk later on today" said Kristian. "There is something that must be
done first. I'll be back later tonight. Meet me in Las Vegas at the casino
at midnight"
With that, he was gone.
"Damn" said Ryan. "How does he do that?"
"You'd be surprised" said Jonathan, emotions in flux. He turned to the
lake. For all of his travels around the world and to this part of it, he
had never seen Lake Tahoe. The peace and beauty of this spot could compare
to a lot of places in Switzerland. Once more the peace and calm came over
him.
"I trust you have a jet around here somewhere" he said quietly.
"Of course, the 550 travels everywhere" said Ryan with a frown. "I used to
love to travel commercial before I met you with my parents. I loved the
airports. Jared has other ideas though."
Jonathan laughed. "Yeah, I imagine that he would. Where is he?"
"At the cabin." Said Ryan pointing up a wooded trail. "Oh yeah. I built a
cabin out here. I bought some land and wanted a place to be mine. I love
all of the places I inherited, but wanted something of my own. Danny did
his security voodoo on the place and it apparently is as safe as Fort
Knox. This is one of the few places I can walk around without Jared."
"Which means if I know Danny that the moment I set one foot within 100
yards he will know that someone is here" said Jonathan. "It would be kind
of fun to wake everyone up"
"You do have a sadistic streak in you don't you" said Ryan laughing.
"On occasion" said Jonathan. "I'll be nice though. Tell you what. Why don't
you fly up to Las Vegas and I'll meet you there"
"Are you sure?" asked Ryan getting up.
"Yeah, just tell him I'm around. I don't fancy getting shot".
Chapter Two: Ryan paced back and forth around the suite at the Casino.
Danny found amusement in this. Jared was his usual self, standing at the
wall not moving.
"Would you calm down?" asked Danny. "It's not like this is the first time
you've met Jonathan. Come to think of it, this was the place you guys did
meet"
"Yeah I know" said Ryan. "I'm just excited that he might be coming back for
good instead of popping in and out"
"Have you told anyone" asked Danny.
"No, we went right from Tahoe to here" said Ryan, finally sitting
down. "Anthony and Karen are back in Boston. It is just you and the Rock
over there" pointing at Jared.
This brought a grunt from Jared.
"I wonder what they are up to" said Danny.
"I wish I knew" said Ryan. "I hope he comes back to stay".
"Yeah, me too" said Danny.
During the pause in their conversation, there was a knock on the
door. Danny looked over at Jared who nodded and went to open the door.
Standing in the doorway was not someone they were expecting. Sam was
standing there in the doorway with a confused look on his face.
"Sam" said Danny coming over to shake his hand. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm not entirely sure" said Sam. "I got a call from someone saying that
there was a car waiting for me outside my apartment and to get in and go to
the airport. I don't understand. Why am I here?"
"Did anyone come with you?" asked Danny
"I had some guy on the plane walk me to the casino and told me to come up
to this suite" said Sam. "This was the suite that Jonathan had a couple of
years ago"
"Yes, it is" said Danny. "Sam, meet Ryan. He is Jonathan's legal heir and
now owns this casino"
"Hi" said Ryan.
Sam shook hands. "How are you? Did you send of me?"
"No, I didn't but I think I know who did" said Ryan.
"I did" said Kristian.
"Where the Hell did you come from?" asked Sam, nearly falling over a chair
backing up suddenly.
"That is a bit of a long story that can wait" said Kristian. "Right now
there are more important things to talk about."
He turned to Danny. "Have Jared take himself somewhere"
Danny nodded at Jared, who stared for a moment then left the room. The
movement to pull his gun out of the holster was not missed by Danny.
"Don't sweat it Jared it is cool" said Danny.
"Let's all sit" said Kristian.
"It has been 2 years since Jonathan was killed." Stated Kristian. "I know
that you, Sam, and he were good friends"
"Yes, we were" said Sam, sliding into a chair. "I was supposed to fly down
to the resort to spend a few days before he died"
"He had some very special feelings for you" said Kristian. "Because of
obligations he couldn't really act on them"
"I kind of had a feeling he did" said Sam. "I was sort of experiencing the
same feelings. I had hoped something might break out during the time in
St. Thomas"
"Sometime second chances are possible" said Kristian, standing.
"What are you talking about?" asked Sam. "And for that matter who are you
anyway? You bring me 2000 miles to Las Vegas and talk like Jonathan is
still around. I saw all of the world headlines. He was shot in the head at
the Rhine Fall. No body was ever recovered"
"I know" said Kristian. "I was there. I was the one that pulled the
trigger"
"What!" said Sam standing up suddenly. "You killed Jonathan?"
"I did what I had to do at the time" said Kristian.
"YOU let him?" Sam screamed at Danny. "You are supposed to be his
bodyguard. How can you let him stand here and say that?"
As Sam screamed, Jared returned to the room, gun in hand.
"Calm down Sam" said Danny. "It is very complicated. Far more then you can
imagine"
Turning towards Kristian, Danny said. "Are you sure you know what you are
doing?"
"Yes" came the single word reply.
"Sam, turn around" said Kristian.
"I'm not turning my back on you for shit" said Sam slowly backing away. He
bumped into someone.
Turning around he stared into the face of the man standing there.
Jonathan.